Stephen arrived on Malta on the early plane from Rome. He'd decided to take the day and just relax before tomorrow's meeting with Laszlo. He had no illusions about what he was facing when he returned to the Refuge. He had however resolved to think about none of it.

Tommy had been told that unless the place was literally on fire or had been bombed, or something else equally momentous, he was unavailable to anyone, including Tommy himself until he returned late tomorrow evening. He had left Tommy with a number of instructions, some real and some designed to keep him too busy to brood. He also left instructions with Tommy, Cal, Eli, Tabitha and Liam, the fruits of which he had hopes of seeing on his return.

One instruction had been to begin to insert into the local gossip mill the idea that he, Stephen, did not think Reno was any sort of threat at all. The other was that they were to ensure that Reno had access to anything his heart desired. They were to make it as plain as it could be that they had nothing to hide because, he said, it was true. It was a remark that had made Eli smile and sent Cal into a choking fit, he'd been laughing so hard. He suspected that Cal didn't believe him, but that was fine.

He'd instructed Tabitha to behave herself with Reno, since he wanted the man to feel at home. He was fairly sure that instruction would have Tabitha cooking his favorite foods before the weekend, while also offering to do his laundry, a chore she flat refused to do for him.

To Liam he had delegated the task of offering himself and his services to Reno should Reno have any questions or want to know anything about the place, or need any sort of assistance regarding the Refuge, the Listeners and what went on there. He was to specifically include an offer to introduce him to Clem, given the close working relationship enjoyed between the Listeners and the monastery. He could even introduce him to Mother Superior, a person known to have reduced Clem, a man with a long history of retaining the upper hand in his dealings with nuns to meekly saying `yes Mother' and then obeying on one memorable occasion and had done it all with genteel sweetness and unimpaired politeness and respect.

Cooperation, amiable openness and gentle helpfulness were to be their goals. He had stopped there, reasoning that if Reno wanted a social life he could find one on his own. Under no circumstances however was he to be allowed to go out with one of the teams until he, Stephen, got back. The last thing he needed was for something to happen to Reno while he was off sightseeing on Malta.

So he flew into Malta and then, renting a car, went off to enjoy himself. He spent the day visiting the prehistoric sites, including the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, an underground cavern that had been a necropolis dated as early as around 2500 BC and then gone on to the Hagar Qim, Malta's ancient limestone temples, believed to be from around 3200 BC. He'd ended at the Tarxien Temples, also about 3000 BC. They had made him feel a lot less old than he'd been lately. He had dined alone at a restaurant overlooking the bay and been gratified to realize that the woman at the bar where he'd stopped for a drink after dinner had been trying to pick him up. He had, however, declined without regret.

He turned in the rental and took a cab to the hotel. He arrived at the Bel Sol rather late, but his reservation had been guaranteed so he had no concerns. He ignored everyone in the lobby and headed off to his room and to bed. He slept better than he had in weeks and woke early, showered, dressed and checked out of his room. He ate breakfast at a small café then walked to the bus stop, where he boarded the bus for Valletta.

By the time he reached Valletta it was ten-thirty and he had an hour or more to kill before he met Laszlo. He walked down the street towards the Cathedral, just another tourist in jeans and a tee shirt, wearing sun glasses and a baseball cap. He slowed as he went by, spotting Adam immediately and then after some difficulty, picking out the other three in their positions around the front entrance. He decided to kill the time by visiting the old fortress, Fort St. Angelo where the Knights had fended off the Moors both successfully and unsuccessfully in their day. Perhaps they would inspire him vicariously with some ideas for fending off his…er… opponents.

Mindful of his responsibilities he returned and entered the Cathedral at approximately eleven-forty five and sought out the Caravaggio, noting in passing that the place had as much in common with a museum as it did a church and a fleeting regret that he hadn't time to explore it.

Laszlo was a man with sun bleached brown hair, clear sky blue eyes, a remarkably strong jaw line, a cleft in his chin and a dimple. He had the sort of surfer-esque physique and tan than an active life gave a person of over six feet and with a frame that was lean but not thin, and without an ounce of spare fat was also wearing jeans a tee shirt. Like Stephen he had also removed his baseball cap upon entering. His sunglasses were hooked by one earpiece to the collar of his tee shirt. He looked nothing like what one would expect, whatever that was, a man in his line of work to look like.

Laszlo, another of the children of an Awakened and a non Awakened had begun his career in the Special Forces, transferred to the CIA and then tiring of the craziness, had left. In the years following he had, building on the contacts he'd made while working for the government, established a network, concentrated mainly in Southern Asia, Africa and the Middle East because those were the places he liked the best. He had gradually, through diligence, innate skill, a lot of brains, an ability to sort the wheat from the chaff when it came to gossip, and a gift for languages become something of `the man' when it came to intelligence gathering in that part of world, as well as being a preferred partner for any little thing you might have going on there that required his specialized talents in other directions.

He had no fixed address, no dependents and no obligations of a long term nature. He moved around a lot because he liked it, as much as because of what he did for a living, and it was a very lucrative living at that. He protected his sources as if they were his children. He picked the people he'd work for with the same care he'd have used to pick a wife had he wanted one. But once they were a client, he was ruthless in the pursuit of their objectives.

He had met Stephen in the middle of an operation that has been bloodier than usual. Stephen had eventually steered him towards Baz, who had as voracious an appetite for information as Stephen had, and then towards Dinah, though unbeknownst to her. He'd liked what he'd seen, particularly since while her network was worldwide she was mainly concentrated in Europe and the Americas. They'd worked together ever since. So when she'd told him she was taking a break and suggested he take over things for a while he had agreed, pending Stephen's approval. He had, on many occasions during the past few years taken several looks at her of a different kind, so he had suggested they spend some time together unrelated to business. She'd gotten a quizzical and slightly mocking look on her face and said she'd let him know. He'd left it at that.

Tommy's phone call to set the meeting had been the signal Stephen agreed. It had also triggered this meeting as a vehicle to see if Adam, proposed liaison between him and Stephen, had what it took to do the job without getting himself or anyone else killed.

He had arrived in Malta that morning and spent the time between arrival and entering the Cathedral closely observing the front of the building. He had picked out Baz, Tobie and Chance without much difficulty. He had seen Stephen pass by going down the hill towards the harbor. It had been significantly more difficult to identify Adam, which he considered a good sign. In fact he hadn't been able to do it until he started following Tobie's line of sight as she keep returning her gaze to a spot in the crowds in front of the Cathedral. He confirmed it using Chance's. He'd have to mention that to Baz later. Adam, however, had never so much as glanced their way  He was, apparently, focused on sketching the façade of the Cathedral as a backdrop to the crowd. It was a process that enabled him to keep most, if not all of the crowd in sight.

He saw Stephen enter at eleven forty-five and noted that the young man gave no indication of that either. So at eleven-fifty he stood, crossed the street and headed for the cathedral, walking like a man with all the time in the world, not a care to his name. Stephen, turning from his contemplation of the Caravaggio masterpiece, that some even called Caravaggio's masterpiece, saw Laszlo enter the nave of the Cathedral. He walked with the sort of confidence one expected in a man at the prime of his life and the peak of his abilities. He caught Stephen's eye and moved over to a back pew, taking his place on his knees. Stephen sighed and joined him.

"Sorry about the position but in a few minutes they'll toss the tourists out and lock the doors. Only those attending mass will be allowed to stay. Kneeling, we won't get tossed."

Stephen answered him mentally, taking charge of the communications link. "And it's good to see you too Laszlo. Always so much fun when we have these little meetings. I really look forward to them."

"Stop trying to make me laugh. We'll get in trouble with the deacon or whoever it is that patrols this place during mass. Now, did he pick me out?"

"Yeah, as you passed him. I take it you saw him?"

"Yeah, but it wasn't him. Tobie has to stop looking directly at the subject, she gives them away all the time."

"OK. Did Dinah hand off to you?"

He paused while they stood for the Introit and the penitential rite. "Yeah it was clean, right before that meeting you had a few days ago. Why was she even there if she's taking a break?"

"She thinks she bullet proof, so I wanted her to know, just in case."

Laszlo nodded. "What you're suggesting might be going on...that isn't good news, there Stephen. Things aren't good between us and your lot but without you holding the line things would be much worse."

"Well, I appreciate the vote of confidence. By the way I saw your brother at the Council meeting. He was in the audience. He looked well."

"Good for him. As if that matters to me."

"I know. And now, having done my duty, there is some thing you could do for me if you would."

"Usual terms?"

"Usual terms." He handed Laszlo two photos. "These two, the names are on the back."

"I'll ask around. Anything special you want?"

"No, just what ever turns up. I also put Baz and the others on it." Then he sat with the rest of the congregation while the lector began the readings.

"Well, then, if there's something to turn up we'll find it." He paused for a moment, waiting until the the responsorial psalm began. "Stephen, you've been at this a long time. The Council has always been a cesspit of intrigue and maneuvering, but this is new  What are you going to do if it's true?"

"You're asking me...I can't believe…What the hell do you think I'm going to do?"

"No, that isn't what I meant. I mean about your own allegiance. The rumors are flying through the whole community, pal. There are a dozen versions of that meeting out there, they know that there's a council guy dogging your butt and some are even saying you told Bella before the meeting you were rejecting the Covenant and leaving, and taking the Listeners and anyone else who wants to come with you. People are asking me what I know; they're offering real money for it. Your intentions right now are one the hottest items going. That's trouble, Stephen, real trouble. People would do things for the kind of money that'll be offered if somebody can't find out."

"You're kidding me, right? I can not believe that what I might do is even a question. Here's what you do…Where's the price at?"

"Hundred thou, not enough for trouble but it'll get higher."

Another hiatus ensured while they stood for the gospel. "OK, my intentions are these. I'm in it for the long haul just like I've always been. I'm back in the game, I like the cards I have and I'm staying, and if somebody wants to call, I'll show…if they've got the stakes. Now, you take that and on Saturday afternoon, if you haven't heard from me you sell it for as much as you can get for it, in fact you hold a friggin' auction and you tell the buyer I told you those were my intentions and if he doesn't believe you he can contact me through the usual channels. You know where to send my half of the fee."

Laszlo laughed soundlessly as he sat for the homily. "Man, you are really something, you know that. They're also taking book on you and Marc. Wanna get a bet down on that?"

"Christ. You are just amazing. Who are these people? Don't they have jobs?"

"This is their job Stephen. I shouldn't have to tell you that  You're back in the game after ten years of doin' whatever and the first bloody thing you do is spit in the face of the Council, over a pair of babies for chrissake, nobody knows why, and it looks like you made `em take it. And then, if that wasn't enough, you force them to adjourn until they can review the Covenants and they retaliate by suspending you indefinitely. Jeez, what did you expect, four, five lines buried in the Metro Section next to the police blotter? You are a hot item in `the wonder what next' sweepstakes and the `who'll win by a nose' Preakness. Get used to it."

Both were silent as they mass moved into the preamble to the consecration. Then standing once again, Stephen said, "Ok, Ok, forget it. The other thing is Dinah."

Laszlo's face got hard, all friendliness gone. "What about Dinah."

"Laszlo get a grip, it ain't that kind of an `about Dinah', I'm not her father, thank heavens. It's just she told me you two might spend a few days together, and I wanted to let you know I arranged with Baz to keep an eye on her, without her knowing, from a discreet distance. I didn't want you losing your nut when you picked up on it. But if it were that kind of an `about Dinah', I'd be saying to you that it looks like maybe, just maybe she's starting to get over Mac and if that's true be careful. Things with her run deep and last a long time."

"OK, Sorry. I appreciate the heads up. And believe me I wouldn't hurt her for the world. It's just maybe we'll spend a few days together having fun, fun like friends, you know?"

"Great, I'm glad. She deserves it." By this time they were kneeling for the consecration. As they stood up again for the Our Father, Stephen turned to his companion. "Now are you going to communion or did you forget to go to confession first? No, well then get your gun ready Annie, `cause Baz just told me there folks outside who don't look like they're waiting to come in and look at the Caravaggio."

Adam had passed the morning sketching the Cathedral and observing the crowd, without being obvious about doing so -- or, rather, without being obvious that it was for any reason other than artistic.

He'd seen three familiar faces in the crowd, the woman and the two men who'd been staying at the Bel Sol the last couple days. But he didn't let himself look too long at any of them, so if anyone else was watching, he wouldn't give away that they even knew each other.

He continued his sketching, occasionally taking a break from the main drawing of the Cathedral to accede to the request of some passers-by to do a quick drawing of them. He didn't refuse; it went with the casual street artist role he was supposed to be playing here - and even when he was doing that, he was still keeping part of his attention on the Cathedral entrance, so he wouldn't miss anything. He'd been told to record everything that he observed, and that was exactly what he meant to do.

He'd seen Stephen enter, and then the other man he'd been told to watch for - Laszlo.

The tourists moved out of the Cathedral as those attending the mass entered, and Adam settled down to wait, he knew that Stephen and Laszlo would not be coming out until the service was over with.

He continued with his sketching of the Cathedral, it was a way to pass the time until the mass was over. Then, the doors opened and he saw Stephen and Laszlo coming out.

Laszlo and Stephen had conferred briefly and decided that the simplest way was simply to exit with the crowd, hoping that they could keep the crowd between them and the men Baz had described to Stephen during the brief mental contact that was all they allowed themselves. The men were at the base of the steps, two on each side and two more waiting at the doors, one on each side.

They merged with crowd, keeping to the middle of the general exodus through the vestibule and out the doors. As they hit the outside chaos erupted. As near as Stephen could reconstruct it later a group of presumably Maltese children, ranging in age, he guessed, from about eleven to fourteen suddenly went from amiable rowdiness to serious street fighting and then to something that suggested murder was imminent. The tourists scattered as fast as the pigeons, though with rather less dignity. The sudden redistribution of the crowd effectively separated him from Laszlo and both of them from the sight of Baz and the others.

Stephen struggling like a salmon on its way upstream to reach Laszlo felt, simultaneously, someone grab his arm twisting it savagely and pulling him against them and then something sharp and very cold slam its way into his back, once, twice and then thrice, before he was shoved violently away. The pain exploded in his back and then his shoulder and arm as he tried to break his fall as he hit the ground, tourists tumbling over him their haste to get away, whether from him or the chaos he didn't know.

Laszlo, thrust sharply to the left side of the steps by the crowd saw the two men Baz had described. He forced his way even further to the left, almost to the edge of the stairs his back against the Cathedral wall and moving down the steps at a ninety degree angle to the doors. He saw, approaching him, on a tangent to end up between him and his pursuers, the young man Stephen had chosen to work with him.

Adam had started to run towards the Cathedral the moment the crowd had started to panic. He was trying to catch a glimpse of Stephen, without any success - there were simply too many people. He'd *felt* the wave of pain when Stephen had gone down. What was he to do? Stephen had *said* just get out if something went wrong...

But there were two men heading towards Laszlo and somehow Adam *knew* they were the cause of this.

A quick glance around confirmed, the woman and the younger man from the hotel were a short distance behind him and further away from Laszlo than he was. He couldn't see the older man--and there wasn't *time*--orders be damned, he wasn't going to just take off and let someone else be hurt, if not killed, here....

Even as he started to run forward, his mind scrambled for a way to stop or at least slow down the attackers...

A moment later, the two thugs suddenly stumbled over some debris that had mysteriously appeared right in front of them. The crowd surged around them as they tried to rise and then, mysteriously, tripped again and then a third time. By the time they got up Laszlo was gone from sight.

Adam saw Laszlo round he Cathedral and disappear. He also saw Baz fighting his way to the doors of the Cathedral towards Stephen  Instinctively he moved in that direction. He was stopped by a somewhat rude and very abrupt mental demand that he get the hell out of there now, this was no place for amateurs. Reflecting he could, in good conscious, obey that order as it coincided with Stephen's he prepared to obey. As he turned for one last glance at the top of the steps he saw that both Stephen and Baz were gone. It didn't take genius to figure out where.